All-nighters aren't fun. If you were following me on Twitter, you'd know that. Some links with your links to start the day.

• Over at Ball Don't Lie, Kelly Dwyer takes a look at a possible super-deal between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Phoenix Suns. The proposed trade looks more like something from your fantasy league or NBA 2K10 than a real-life possibility, but as always KD makes perfect sense out of it.

Rob's Highlight of the Day

Alex Ovechkin with a hat trick to beat the Penguins? Easy. [via The Grinder]

Just saying...

Another busy Monday for me, especially since I convinced myself that watching ESPN's 12 hours of post-Super Bowl coverage was more productive than doing the work I need to finish. Anyway, not much going on in the sports world (outside of New Orleans at least), so we'll spice things up today. More highlights, and some of my favorite commercials from last night's marketing extravaganza.

• Mardi Gras starts early this year. The New Orleans Saints played a hell of a football game last night and beat the Indianapolis Colts to win Super Bowl XLIV. Drew Brees took a machete to the Colts defense after the first quarter, completing a ridiculous 82% of his passes to finish with 288 yards and 2 TDs. I'd say something about The Who here, but my girlfriend was too interested in the Puppy Bowl Halftime Show to change the channel. Warning: Dr. Mantis Toboggan advises to NOT watch this video while high.

Rob's Favorite Super Bowl Commercials

• OHMYGODTIMTEBOWISMAKINGANANTI-ABORTIONCOMM.. Hold on, folks. Deadspin has video of Timmah's commercial, and it was nowhere near the controversy people made it out to be. However, did anyone else see the commercial where Mrs. T gets rocked by her son, then gets up like it's nothing? Curious.

Overall I'd give the commercials a B-, but here are some of my favorites (in order):

Coke and The Simpsons.  They've both been around for a while, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for not being funny here.  Not all grandparents havve the greatest sense of humor.

Golden Girl Betty White & Snickers? I admit, a nice combination.

This was a pleasant surprise from McDonalds. 



Letterman's right: nothing sounds worse than a Super Bowl party with Leno and Oprah.

Drew Brees was pretty damn good in Super Bowl XLIV.  Pants-a-little-snug-good.

32 completions in 39 attempts -- a Super Bowl completions record.

Two touchdowns and zero interceptions.

A Super Bowl victory -- the Saints first.

A Super Bowl MVP.

...And an adorable picture with his son, wearing giant headphones, during the post-game celebration.

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

But not as cute as next year's pictures of Matt Stafford and his girlfriend's fake boobies when he hoists the Lombardi.

[pic via jose3030]

What is there to do (every year) when the Lions aren't in the Super Bowl?  Easy.  Hold Super Bowl parties, get liquored up, and gamble -- a lot.

If there's one time a year that you trust D4L for anything, it's football betting on the Super Bowl.  I've done nothing in the past two weeks, but try to determine where I would put all of my life savings.  You should follow suit -- hop on a sportbook now.

• Who will win the coin toss is lame.  Who will receive the ball first?   Colts

• Which player will get the first 1st down?  Dallas Clark

• When will I have to take my first leak?  Who cares? I have a urinary catheter for big sporting events.

• Which player scores the first touchdown? Dallas Clark

• Who will be the first famous person (aside from players or coaches, past or present) flashed across the screen? Kim Kardashian

• For how many yards will Drew Brees first completion be? 6 yards.

• What will be the first screenshot worthy moment? Archie Manning picking his nose (and potentially eating it).
  

• If people decide to channel surf, what will be the most likely choice? Puppy Bowl VI... or Erin Brockovich.

• Which kicker will miss a field goal first (and yes both will miss one)?  Hartley
  

• When will the first Lions reference occur?  almost immediately, but to be safe, in the first quarter

• Who will score the first Saints touchdown? Pierre Thomas
  

• When will Tim Tebow's ad appear?  Who cares?

• Seriously, what will be the best commercial?  "The Situation" & Peyton Manning team up to advertise, I don't know what, abs and foreheads?

• Which announcer will make the first bonehead comment?  Jim Nantz -- probably comparing Dwight Freeney overcoming his ankle injury to the Saints overcoming Katrina.  But seriously, I usually like Nantz.

• How many total points in tonight's game?  51.
  

• Who wins the MVP?  Pierre Thomas
  

• Final Score?  Saints 27, Colts 24

• And who says they'll go to Disney World first?  Peyton Manning ... he really wants to go there no matter what.

It's sort of refreshing to be a Michigan basketball fan right now. And no, there's no subtle sarcasm or cynicism in that statement.

Let me explain.

No more MUST WIN games for Michigan any more.   You see, UConn (Jan.17) at home was a MUST WIN.   Test passed. Morale on the upswing again.

Wisconsin (Jan.20) on the road almost a must win just based on the fact Badgers didn't have Jon Leuer and Michiga needed another quality win.  Test failed, miserably.

Manny Harris suspended prior to Purdue (Jan.23) game made it a lost cause even before tip off.  Sad fail.

Manny Harris reinstated prior to home game against MSU (Jan. 26), making the game a MUST WIN.   Test failed, though just barely.

Next on the slate was home against Iowa, and it may of well been against Novi High School because quite simply Iowa is no good. They basically hoist threes all game long, have very little size or athleticism, and the coaching is suspect.  Very similar traits to the Wolvies, only that Iowa doesn't have a Manny Harris or DeShawn Sims type player to bail them out from time to time. So anywhoodles, Michigan did take care of business like they needed to against Iowa. The W put Michigan at 4-5 in the conference with an away game versus Northwestern (Feb.2) as a sort of last ditch effort at turning the season around and making a run to the NCAA tourney.

The game, and you guessed it, was a MUST WIN.

Michigan came up predictably short, thus ending any more talk about must wins for the rest of the regular season.

Very refreshing.

Sure the MUST WIN psycho drama will crawl back onto the stage once the Big Ten tourney begins in March, but till then the Wolvies have little pressure to do anything really. Sure the NIT is still up for grabs, but as I said a few weeks ago, “It's so Tommy Amaker.”

Though on second thought, maybe a berth into the Not Invited Tournament wouldn't be all bad since it might not be around too much longer considering the rumor going around that the NCAA could expand the NCAA tournament field to 96 God Blessed teams.

Well I got news for ya.

The way Michigan is going right now a NIT berth ain't even looking too good. As of February 3rd Rush the Court did not have Michigan in its hypothetical 96 team field, basically meaning that Michigan isn't even in line for a NIT spot right now (because essentially the NIT teams would be the next 31 into the NCAA field if it does indeed expand).

My point is, all of the NCAA tourney aspirations this team had can finally be put to rest for at least a month. Just go out there and play basketball to improve, not only as a team but as individuals. And have some fun too. Maybe that's just what the Wolvies need--no expectations, no pressures.

Come Big Ten tourney time you can start to think about winning the tourney and punching your ticket into maybe what will be the last 65 team NCAA tournament ever. Heck, maybe by conference tournament time it won't matter if the pressure is too intense or the expectations too high. Maybe the team will have grown and improved to the point where they are capable of finally breaking through and going on that impressive run all the fans have been waiting for. However, that's only possible if the Michigan players and the coaches think it's possible. I guarantee you that's all that matters. Just ask the 2008 Georgia Bulldogs.

Not too many things more beautiful than the bracket

I'll say one thing about the NCAA tournament that I really enjoy... how hard it is to make it in the NCAA tournament field. It's a pretty stellar accomplishment and I compare it a little to making the MLB playoffs. You know you're getting the best of the best to do battle with each other, and I think that's neat. Sure there's maybe a dozen teams or so from small conferences that don't have a lick of a chance at winning even one game (or even coming within 30 points--I'm looking at you SWAC conference), but even they had to persevere and win three or four games straight in their conference tourneys just to make the field. They earned it just like big conference teams did by winning enough games throughout the season to impress the selection committee. Really, with the exception of maybe 15 to 20 in the nation the margin of error to make it to the Big Dance is very small. Just like the baseball playoffs, you really have to earn your spot in the field.

Dr. Mantis Toboggan will be joining us every week to answer questions submitted by you, the readers!  In the future, you can send any questions, about anything at all, to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Kyla (Harpor Woods): Do you think the Red Wings will make the playoffs this year?

Dr. Mantis Toboggan: When I first read this question, I thought it was a joke.  The last time the Red Wings didn't make the playoffs, The Simpsons aired for the first time, you could buy gas for a buck and a quarter, and astronomy was revolutionized with the hubble telescope being placed in orbit.  Damn, now that I think about it, a lot of good shit happens when they don't make the playoffs, so I wouldn't mind if they didn't.  BUT I think they'll sneak in like the socks guy in Mr. Deeds.

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Travis (Long Island): How do you feel about Justin Verlander's extension?

Dr. Mantis Toboggan: How do you feel once you've waited six hours to use the bathroom after a long night of drinking and had a meal of string cheese sticks?  Yeah, it feels REFRESHINGLY AWESOME.

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Kevin (Windsor): What the fuck is up with the Pistons?

Dr. Mantis Toboggan: What the fuck is up with the Pistons is right. No really, what? I haven't been watching that much.  Didn't they get moved to Tulsa?

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Corey (Norwalk): Why aren't you at all the Super Bowl festivities in Miami?

Dr. Mantis Toboggan: I was invited to go to a couple parties, but Sharpie and Kleenex sponsored parties didn't appeal to me.  I assumed that the most famous people at those parties would have been the Savage brothers anyway. I have no problem sitting at home, trippin' balls on acid, and watching the Super Bowl from my couch.  Thanks.

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Trista (Midland): What's your favorite TV show?

Dr. Mantis Toboggan: Anything I can play drinking games to.  Drink every time you see Neil Patrick Harris. Drink every time Snooki gets punched or you want to punch her.  Stuff like that.

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Stu (Hollywood): I have a really disgusting rash on my bum, what do you suggest I do?

Dr. Mantis Toboggan: Move to Cleveland.

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Cal (in fornia): My fiance watches this show called "Snapped," which is about all these wives that lose their shit and wind up murdering their husbands.  Should I be worried?

Dr. Mantis Toboggan: Woo boy.  I'd be very, very worried if she watches while sharpening the kitchen knife, or lets out a sadistic giggle every time the husband is murdered.   Other than that, I'd say it's totally fucked up, but you should be safe.

Super Bowl Weekend: it's finally here. Enjoy it while it lasts, because when the bill for that new HDTV comes you're gonna be broke.

• The Demar Dorsey saga continues in Ann Arbor, and Mgoblog has it's take on the matter. I'd like to see what people have to say to Rich Rod if this kid becomes a star, because they're sure piling on the dude right now. The last line of Mgoblog's article sums up my sentiments perfectly.

• Over at Motown Wings, Chris looks at what happens when the Wings get healthy over the course of the next week or two. Specifically, he makes his predictions on who stays and who's looking for a new job. I like his reasoning, but I still think Meech goes before Lebda, and I don't know if Holland is ready to give up on Ville Leino.

Congratulations Spartans fan across the world, you made your voice heard. It has been reported from the Michigan State Athletics Website that they are going to stick with the old Spartan logo for next season. Since the logo was "accidentally" leaked out to the public, there has been strong backlash from Spartan fans across the globe through the media and social networks. I joined at least two anti-new logo groups on Facebook. Here are some of my favorite wall posts from the group Say NO to the new Spartan logo:

Whoever said out with the old in with the new is a douchebag

I'm a UofM fan and I feel bad for you guys...that takes a lot...

It looks like poop

We fear change!
Sparty on Garth

UM  must have been behind this terrible creation...

You get the point. In my mind, this "leaking" of the new logo was premeditated. I think Michigan State wanted to gauge fan reaction before they dropped this bombshell at the unveiling in April. Imagine if it was never leaked, and you woke up one sunny spring day to find that your new team logo was a hybrid of Jay Leno and an alien from District 9. PR nightmare for the athletic department.

I just think it's really cool to see the power that people with a common interest can have. Give yourself a pat on the back Sparty fans. You voiced your opinions, and they were heard. You didn't care how many annoying Facebook groups you had to made, or how many threatening tweets to the athletic department you sent, you were not going to sit in silence while this egregious act be committed to your beloved logo.